# Alison La Placa

Alison La Placa (born December 16, 1959) is an American actress best known for playing Linda Phillips on the sitcom Duet and its spin-off Open House, playing Catherine Merrick in 49 episodes of The John Larroquette Show and the recurring role of Joanna, Rachel Green’s boss who dated Chandler Bing on the sitcom Friends.

## Biography
### Early life and career

Born in Lincolnshire, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, La Placa is a graduate of Stevenson High School.
Shortly after moving to Hollywood, La Placa landed the role of Elyse in the sitcom version of Barry Levinson's dramedy movie Diner (1982). That pilot did not get picked up, and soon thereafter La Placa got a role in the made-for-TV movie Listen to Your Heart (1983).

### Later career

The following year, La Placa earned a regular spot on the short-lived sitcom Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs (1984). She had a small role in the movie Fletch (1985), and subsequently played the starring role of Linda Phillips on the sitcoms Duet (from 1987 to 1989) and Open House (from 1989 to 1990). La Placa played opposite Kirstie Alley in the comedy movie Madhouse (1990), with co-star John Larroquette.
La Placa has guest-starred on series including Family Ties, Cheers, ER and Desperate Housewives. She was a regular on Stat (1991), The Jackie Thomas Show (1992), Tom (1994), and the NBC sitcom The John Larroquette Show (from 1994 to 1996). La Placa has guest-starred on animated series such as Batman: The Animated Series and Johnny Bravo.
She played the character Andrea in the television series Boston Legal in two episodes in season 4 ("Glow in the Dark" and "Rescue Me"). She appeared in Malcolm in the Middle as Barbara in the episode "Convention" and in a recurring role in 'Til Death as Beth, Joy's co-worker. She also guest starred in the CBS sitcom Mom.

### Personal life

She has been married to television actor/director Philip Charles MacKenzie (her co-star on Open House) since 1992.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Voyage of the Rock Aliens | Diane | Credited as Alison Laplaca |
| 1985 | Fletch | Pan Am Clerk | |
| 1990 | Madhouse | Claudia | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Listen to Your Heart | Lynn | Television film |
| 1984 | Diner | Elyse | Television short |
| 1984 | Maggie Briggs | Melanie Bitterman | Episode: "A New Leaf" |
| 1984 | Family Ties | Barbara | Episode: "Fabric Smarts" |
| 1985 | Cheers | Paula Nelson | Episode: "Behind Every Great Man" |
| 1985 | Brothers | Annie Todson | Episode: "The Shoop Shoop Shop" |
| 1985 | Murder: By Reason of Insanity [es] | Janet Landry | Television film (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 1986 | Remington Steele | Joan Kendall | Episode: "Steele in the Running" |
| 1986 | Second Serve | Nightclub Singer | Television film |
| 1987 | Our House | Ann Tollfeson | Episode: "The Best Intentions" |
| 1987 | Fame | Ms. Audrey Fleming | Episode: "The Crimson Blade" |
| 1987 | The $25,000 Pyramid | Herself | Aired November 23, 1987 to November 27, 1987 |
| 1987-1989 | Duet | Linda Phillips | Main role (seasons 1-3) |
| 1989-1990 | Open House | Linda Phillips | Main role (season 1) |
| 1991 | Stat | Dr. Elizabeth Newberry | Main role (season 1) |
| 1991 | In The Nick of Time | Susan Rosewell | Television film |
| 1992-1993 | The Jackie Thomas Show | Laura Miller | Main role (season 1) |
| 1994 | Batman: The Animated Series | Baby-Doll / Mary Louise Dahl | Voice, episode: "Baby-Doll" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 1994 | Tom | Dorothy Graham | Main role (season 1) |
| 1994-1996 | The John Larroquette Show | Catherine Merrick | Recurring role; 49 episodes |
| 1997 | Duckman | Marion | Voice, episode: "With Friends Like These" |
| 1997 | Temporarily Yours | Lily Greer | Episode: "By Design" |
| 1997 | Johnny Bravo | Lois/Brunette | Voice, episode: "Going Batty/Berry the Butler/Red Faced in the White House" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 1997 | Friends | Joanna | Recurring role; 3 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 1998 | 7th Heaven | Carolyn Fulton | Episode: "...And a Nice Chianti" |
| 1999 | Hercules | Additional voices | Episode: "Hercules and the Odyssey Experience" |
| 2000 | Malcolm in the Middle | Barbara | Episode: "Convention" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2001 | Nathan's Choice | Pilot | Television short |
| 2002 | ER | Female Lawyer | Episode: "Lockdown" |
| 2006 | Desperate Housewives | Rita Patterson | Episode: "The Miracle Song" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2007 | The O.C. | Dr. James | Episode: "The Groundhog Day" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2007 | Grey's Anatomy | Mrs. Nolston | Recurring role; 2 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Andrea Michele | Recurring role; 2 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2008-2010 | 'Til Death | Beth | Recurring role; 3 episodes (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | Diane Ktretschmer | Episode: "Do No Harm" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2009 | Without a Trace | Mary Whitman | Episode: "Voir Dire" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2010 | 15 Minutes | Goldie | Television short |
| 2011 | Man Up! | Caroll | Episode: "Acceptance" |
| 2012 | Up All Night | Gail Reinhold | Episode: "Preschool Auction" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |
| 2014 | Mom | Louanne | Episode: "Forged Resumes and the Recommended Dosage" (credited as Alison LaPlaca) |